Self-locking plug apparatus for sealing and recovering a pipeline laid on a deep submerged bed
First Claim
1. A self-locking plug for use in the recovery of a pipeline laid on a deep submerged bed, comprising the combination of a cylindrical body member having a rear section adapted to be inserted into the submerged end of the pipeline to be recovered and a hollow ogival front end containing a hole adjacent its rear for the reception of a suspension hook and also containing an exhaust port, an exhaust pipe extending along the axis of the cylindrical body member from its rear end to the exhaust port, an exhaust valve for controlling the flow of water through said exhaust pipe and exhaust port, locking means including shoes carried by the cylindrical body member and means for forcing said shoes against the inner wall of said pipeline to anchor the plug into the pipeline, sealing means including a plastic ring seated in a groove in the outer wall of the cylindrical body member and means for squeezing said plastic ring so that it is forced against the inner wall of the pipeline to prevent the flow of water through the pipeline around the plug, compressed fluid carried in container means located in said ogival end, conduits respectively connecting said container means with the locking means and the sealing means, and valves located in said conduits for regulating the admission of compressed fluid to the locking means and the sealing means, said ogival end having a balancing chamber adjacent its front adapted to contain sufficient water to maintain the axis of the cylindrical body member along a substantially horizontal plane when the plug is suspended at a point coinciding with said hole in the ogival end.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-locking plug, for use in the recovery of a pipeline laid on a deep submerged bed, consists of the combination of a cylindrical body having a rear section for insertion into the submerged end of the pipeline to be recovered and an ogival front end containing an exhaust port, an exhaust pipe extending along the axis of the cylindrical body from its rear end to the exhaust port, an exhaust valve, locking shoes carried by the cylindrical body, a plastic sealing ring carried in an outer groove in the cylindrical body, and means simultaneously actuated by compressed fluid carried in the ogival front end of the cylindrical body to press the locking shoes against the inner wall of the pipeline and fasten the plug to it and to force the sealing ring against the inner wall of the pipeline and prevent the flow of water around the cylindrical body.
23 Citations
3 Claims
- 1. A self-locking plug for use in the recovery of a pipeline laid on a deep submerged bed, comprising the combination of a cylindrical body member having a rear section adapted to be inserted into the submerged end of the pipeline to be recovered and a hollow ogival front end containing a hole adjacent its rear for the reception of a suspension hook and also containing an exhaust port, an exhaust pipe extending along the axis of the cylindrical body member from its rear end to the exhaust port, an exhaust valve for controlling the flow of water through said exhaust pipe and exhaust port, locking means including shoes carried by the cylindrical body member and means for forcing said shoes against the inner wall of said pipeline to anchor the plug into the pipeline, sealing means including a plastic ring seated in a groove in the outer wall of the cylindrical body member and means for squeezing said plastic ring so that it is forced against the inner wall of the pipeline to prevent the flow of water through the pipeline around the plug, compressed fluid carried in container means located in said ogival end, conduits respectively connecting said container means with the locking means and the sealing means, and valves located in said conduits for regulating the admission of compressed fluid to the locking means and the sealing means, said ogival end having a balancing chamber adjacent its front adapted to contain sufficient water to maintain the axis of the cylindrical body member along a substantially horizontal plane when the plug is suspended at a point coinciding with said hole in the ogival end.
Specification